Circuit-controller.



R. H. MANSON. cmcun cowmoum.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAYIU, I914- RENEWED JAN. 17,1919.

Patented Mar. 1,1919.

WITNESSES: I R HflVENTOR. 7 122, MQ

. K f I vention itself bodiments of the invention,

, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, RAY H. MANSON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Controllers following to be a full,scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to circuit controllers, and more particularly topush button circuit controllers which, though adapted for generalcontrolling the warning signal devices employed upon automobiles, motorcycles and similar vehicles.

In the operation of such warning signal devices. it is generallynecessary for the driver of the vehicle to operate the circuitcontroller without looking at the same, his attention being monopolizedby the driving of the vehicle. In order to meet such requirements, it isdesirable to expose to his touch a large operating area which will causethe actuation of the warning signal device. no matter where it istouched.

It is one of the particular objects of my invention to provide a circuitcontroller which will meet the requirements of vehicle drivers underthese conditions.

Other objects of my invention will probably be better underfrom adescription of particular emsuch as are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

Figure 1 shows a vertical section through the embodiment of my inventionin connection with a circuit diagram.

Fig. 2 is plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 with the movablemember removed.

stood Fig. 3" is a plan view of a second embodiment with the movablemember removed.

Fig. 4 is a section through the embodiment of my invention illustratedin Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section through a third embodiment of myinvention.

eferring now to the invention, and'to the embodiments illustrated in thedrawin and first to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, at 6 is shown astationary at 7 a movable member. The stationary member consists of aconduit 10. A set Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May18, 1914, Serial No. 839,217. Renewed January use, are especiallyadapted for use in member 23. through Which and the inmember andPatented Mar. 4, 1919. 17, 1919. Serial No. 271,755.

screw 11 may be provided to hold the conduit in position. The casing 8is preferably cylindrical in shape and there is mounted therein a basemember 12 which may as shown consist of insulating material p a bore 13preferably cylindrical The top of the base member is hollowed out toform a chamber 14, leaving a shoulder 15 upon which are mounted parts ofan electric circuit, here shown as spring contact members 16 and 17.These members, as shown better in Fig. 2, are shaped somewhat after thefashion of the letter Y, each having a pair of limbs and each being cutaway in a substantially semi-circular manner, leaving, when the partsare mounted, a substantially circular open space 20 therebetween. Thespring 17 is tensioned to normally hold the switch contacts and the button in the position shown in Fig. 1. Conductors 70 and 71 are ledthrough the conduit and connect it to the members 16 and A which isprovided with an 21 to which the conductors are connected by screws 22.as illustrated in Fig. 2. Abracket 23 is shown mounted upon thestationary member and extending across the bore there- A central opening24 is formed in the there extends a guide member, here shown as a pin 25on the movable member. The pin 25 is provided with a head 26 thereon,which is con nected to the push button member 27 through any suitablemeans, such as a screw 29 and a plate 30. The push button member ispreferably formed with a large exposed area and shaped like an umbrella,the edges extend mg over the top of the stationary member.

The head 26 is of conducting material and i when the button is hecircuit controller. 52 is 'a casing, preferably cylindrical in form, and53, a

o with an anvil base, preferably of insulating material mounted in thecasing and connected therein. in any suitable way, as by lugs 5a uponthe casing. The terminals of the electric circuit are shown at and 56 inthe mem- Suitable means are'provided for placing these members inconnection to close the circuit, here shown as a switch spring 57connected atone end to the terminal 56 and free at the other end 58. Acontact 59 may be placed upon the free end.to engage 60 upon theterminal 55. The spring 57 is teusioned to normally hold the switchcontacts and the button in the posi-' tion indicated in Fig. 1 of thedrawing.

The movable member 51 consists of a push button, preferably formed ofinsulating material of large operating area. This button is preferablyconcentric with the stationary member, but of greater area and may beshaped like an umbrella. An annular channel 61 is cut in the member 51in order that it may clear the edge of the casing when the button isdepressed. The member 51 has both a slidable and a rocking connectionwith the stationary member 50 A plate 62 is connected to the bottom ofthe member 51 by suitable means, such as screws 63. This plate extendsat 64c beyond the body portion of the. member 51, forming a catch whichengages a catch 65 upon the stationary member. In the form shown thecatch 65 consists of an annular member formed by turning in the upperedge of the casing. When the button is tilted, for example, by applyingpressure to the point 66, g

the plate fulcrums upon this catch, so that the button is rocked aboutthe point 65 as a pivot. Whenever pressure is applied to the edge of thebutton, it rocks about a diametrically opposite portion of the plate andcatch 65. When the button is rocked, the switch will be operated by camaction, effected by a lug 80 formed upon the bottom of the push button.

The plate 64: is as the inside of the cylindrical casing 52, so

that when pressure is applied to the centerv it will slide in the casingand of the button, the member 80 will cause the operation of the switchby depressing the spring 57. It will thus be seen that the switch willbe operated, no matter where the pressure is applied to the push button.

' Referring now to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, one of the conductorsis connected to a terminal 100 which may consist of an annular memberhaving a collar 101. The

' other conductor is connected to a member 102, here shown as a rod orbolt having a pivotal connection at 103, with aplate 104 in the bore 105of the stationary member 106. The members 102 and 100 are normallyseparated, as shown at 110.

When the button 111 is depressed,'ashoulton F111 is .shoulder engagingsaid springs about the same diameter.

der 112 on the member 105 engages the collar ,101, closing the switch.When thebutrocked about the outercylindrical surface of 112 will engagethe inner cylindrical surface of collar 101, or one edge of the shoulder112 will engage the top of the collar 101, operating the switch.Springmeans are employed to re-' turn the button to normal whenreleased.

I have illustrated these embodiments of my invention in this particularform and with these particular details to expl invention, and not that Iwish to be limited to such forms and details. Many variations therefrommay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, which ismore particularly se claims.

I claim: I v

1. In a circuit controller, the combination of a stationary member, apair of spring contact members connected thereto, a movable memberprovided with a central bolt, means to loosely pivot said bolt to saidstationary member for both sliding and rocking movement, said movableand stationary member being slidable with respect to each other andmeans to place said springs in electrical communication when saidmovable member is either slid or rocked with respect to the stationarymem er.

2. In a circuit controller, the combination point 103, the

am theof a stationary member, a perforated plate mounted in said member,a ush button movable with respect tot .estationary memher, a centralbolt projecting loosely through the perforation in the plate and vinsaid plate, an enlargement on the bottom of said bolt to prevent itswithdrawal from said perforation, a conducting shoulder carried on saidbutton, and a pair of switch springs on the stationary member, said whenthe button is either depressed or rocked.

3. In a circuit controller, the combination of a stationary memberprovided with a recess and a central bore, a shoulder in sai recess, apair of conducting springs mount- -ed on said shoulder, conductorsconnected to said springs, a push button, a plate carried by saidstationary member and a bolt carrie by the push button loosely pivotedto the plate for both rocking and sliding movement and a conductingmember carried by the button adapted to engage the springs when thebutton 18 rocked about the pivot, said pivot-connection between thebutton and the stationary member permitting the button to be slid withrespect to the stationary member, said conducting member carried by thebutton engaging the conducting springs when the button is slid withrespect to thestationary member.

4:. In a circuit controller,

both depressibl the combination e and rockable of a base member,

anem a of a base member, a push button provided with a central bolt,means to slidably and pivotably connect said bolt tosaid base memr, apair of conducting springs connected to the base member and a conductingmember carried by the push button extending loosely through saidperforated. plate and depressible and tiltable thereon, a head formed onthe end of the bolt to prevent its withdrawal from said perforation, apair of contactscarried by the base member and a conducting membercarried by the push button for c0nnecting said contacts together whenthe button is either depressed or tilted.

button for connecting said springs 6. In a circuit controller, thecombination of a base member, a push button, means to slidably andpivotably connect said button to said member, a pair of Y-shapedconducting springs and means controlled by 7. In a circuit controller,the combination of a base member, a push button, a central bolt on saidpush button pivotabl and slidably connected to said base memlier, a pairof Y-shaped conducting members and means controlled by the push buttonfor connecting said members when the button is either rocked or slidabout said connection.

-8. In a circuit controller, the combination of a base member, a pushbutton, .a central bolt carried by the push buttommeans for pivotablyand slidably connectin said button to said member, a pair of Y'- fiapedconducting members havmg their amns about said bolt and means controlledby the push button for electrically connecting said members togetherwhen the button is operated.

' In a circuit controller, the combination of a base, an electric switchconsisting of'a pair of contacts carried by said base,a spring carryingone of the contacts supported from the base, a push button slidably andtiltably connected. to said base, a member projecti'ng from the centralportion of the push button for closing said switch when the but-' ton iseither tilted or depressed, said spring normally holding said button inswitch nonoperating position.

10. An electric push' button comprising a perforated plate mounted insaid base member, a push button, a bolt.

the pushv together.

' the peripheries 11th day of May,

terminals normally spaced'apart, a case supporting said termmals, saidcase comprising telescoping sections, yielding means normally holdingsaid sections coaxial, means for preventing separationof said sectionsand for preventing telescoping movement beyond a predetermined point,said sectionsing relatively movable both axially and out of coaxialrelations to bring said terminal members into circuit closing relation.

11. An electric switch comprising a casing, circuit connections in saidcasing, a centrally Y disposed switch member for controlling said"circuit connections and a pressure operated member exterior of saidcasing and having a tiltable and rectilinear movement for oper' atingsaid controlling member.

12. An electric switch comprising a casing, circuit connections indisposed switch member for controlling said circuit connections and apressure operated member exterior of said casing and having a tiltingmovement for operating said controlling member.

13. In a push button device, a push button having an annular catchthereon, a stationary member having an annular catch thereon, saidcatches being in engagement throughout their eripheries, said movablemember being roc able with respect to the other about any ting thedepression of the movable member and a switch operated when said movablemember is rocked down about any point on own. y

14. In a circuit controller, the combination of a base, a pair ofnormally open contacts mounted 'on the base, a push button,"-connectingmeans permitting both slidable and rockable movement for connecting thebutton to the base, said button when connected to the base being bothslidable and tiltable with respect to the base, a central said casing,acentrally point of said periphery, spring means between said memberspermitof the catches or depressed depending member'carried by the buttonfor connectin the contacts when the button is either roc ed or sIi'dwith respect to the base, and yielding means for normally holding thebutton in switch non-connecting position.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name in the presence of twowitnesses, this RAY H. MANSON. Witnesses:

. SIDNEY A. BEYLAND,

GEO. E. ROBERTS.

